Seller: luxurytime
Name: Adriaan Rootman

What do you sell?

I sell high-end luxury brand name watches and diamond jewellery.

Is selling on bidorbuy your business or your hobby?

It is my business.

What first prompted you to sell on bidorbuy?

It all happened thanks to poker. I must admit, I used to be a bit of a poker addict; every now and then, I still venture down that alley. One night, I met Andy Higgins from bidorbuy at a poker game. This was years ago, I think before 2004. I told him about luxurytime and what I do. He told me about bidorbuy and recommended selling some products there. That was the first time I became aware of bid or buy.

When did you start selling on bidorbuy?

I first opened my account back in 2005. I tried to list a few items for sale, but it did not work. I must admit that at the time I did not put much effort into my listings. It was like setting up a drink stall in the middle of the Kalahari Desert and waiting for a camel to come by. So, I gave it up. Then, about four years later, I started looking for channels other than my website for selling my products and decided to give bidorbuy another go. Again, it was very slow in the beginning. It was very difficult to build up trust with buyers, because due to the nature of my business I sell high value items.

What are the biggest benefits that you find selling on bidorbuy?

It’s like an office on wheels. I can run it from absolutely anywhere in the country or even abroad. It’s a fantastic selling platform and very easy to understand.

What sets your company or products apart from the rest?

High quality products at great discounted prices, combined with fast and efficient customer service. I specialize in brand-new high-end timepieces. I offer all my clients a seven days unconditional 100% money back guarantee on absolutely every product I sell.

How do you promote your products?

For many of my products, I use the paid enhanced listings bidorbuy offers to us sellers: premium, home, category, priority and highlighted. This draws views not only to my enhanced listings, but also to the ones that are not. In other words, I make the listings I advertise on bidorbuy via enhancements work for my other items too. Now and then, I also do a R1-no reserve auction, just to put a presence out there in that section, so that auction lovers see me and my products. Again, I count on potential buyers to stop and see not only my R1 offers, but also other products I am selling.

What has been the biggest lesson you have learnt?

Touch wood, in my eight years as an online seller I have never been scammed or conned. When people talk about trading on online marketplaces, they usually mention the risks for the buyers. However, sellers too can get scammed if they neglect to stick by the rules and, for example, just once give in to the customer’s entreaties and ship the product before the payment is in the bank.

Businesswise, I’d say that the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to be patient. It is important not to rush into things too fast, but to take it step by step instead. It is also important to be patient with potential buyers and to go the extra mile.

What advice would you give to sellers who are new to bidorbuy?

Treat every potential buyer with respect, be patient and professional. Treat them all equally, no matter how much money they intend to spend. Make your listings clear and give as much information about your product as you can. Detailed photos go a long way, so take care to have good images. If you can sell something you have a passion for, it’s a great bonus and you will not get bored. Also try to provide a personal touch to your clients. For example, I do a lot of personal deliveries on my high-end products all over South Africa.

And what advice would you give to buyers who are new to bidorbuy?

Do research on the sellers, check their ratings and read the feedback from previous buyers carefully. For example, if you see a seller with a heap of positive ratings earned by selling a lot of R1 or R10 items, think twice before buying a R50,000 worth item from him or her. Even better, walk away, especially if the deal seems too good to be true. In a case like this, positive ratings can mean absolutely nothing, and you, the buyer, risk losing your hard earned money, or in, in best case scenario, having numerous complications. Also, look at what the sellers specialise in. Generally speaking, you will want to buy a specific product from the seller who specialises in that line.

What are your favourite features on bidorbuy?

Auctions, the Crazy Wednesday Newsletter, the recently introduced Deal of the Week.

Additional comments about bidorbuy?

I can only say – thank you, bidorbuy, for contributing to my success as an online seller.